Kari Lake Makes Power Push To Dismantle Voice of America

Kari Lake, who has been tasked with overseeing the Trump administration’s efforts to dismantle or significantly reduce the operations of USAGM and VOA this week has taken took significant steps to consolidate her authority. The Voice of America is a government broadcaster that has disseminated pro-democracy news into foreign countries since 1942.

The Washington Post reports Lake had Victor Morales, the acting CEO of USAGM locked out of his email and electronic systems, effectively sidelining him. Morales had delegated much of his authority to Lake, but her actions marginalized the highest-ranking civil servant at the agency.

Kari Lake

Lake also ordered VOA Director Michael Abramowitz, who has been on administrative leave since March 2025 and is a lead plaintiff in a lawsuit against her, to accept a reassignment to a transmitting station in Greenville, North Carolina, or face termination. Abramowitz and his legal team argue this order violates the Administrative Procedures Act, calling it “plainly illegal.”

Lake recently terminated over 500 personal services contractors and issued reduction-in-force notices to more than 600 others, though some notices were rescinded due to processing errors. She has expressed a goal to run USAGM at its “statutory minimum.”

Last month Lake testified before the House Foreign Affairs Committee, describing USAGM as “rotten to the core” and suggesting that any viable components be transferred to the U.S. State Department. She criticized a congressionally mandated firewall (in place since 1994) that prevents government interference in VOA’s independent reporting, claiming it enables “biased, anti-American, or rogue reporting.” 

Trump supported her stance via a Truth Social post, calling VOA a “leftwing disaster” and urging its termination.